Mattress tuft



Jan. 14, 1930. R. F. RUTHERFORD ET AL 3,

I MATTRESS TUFT Filed June 25,. 1928 INVENTORS.

ROY F. RUTHERFORD.

B/YVILFIAM Hook/6&4

HTTT.

Patented Jan. 14, 1 930 .BOY F. RUTHERFORD AND WIIdIlI-AM HOOD, OF SANFRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA MATTRESS TUFT Application filed June 25,

Our invention relates to improvements in a tufting device for mattressesand the like wherein tufting loops are applied through gromets engagingthe ticking of a mattress 5 to prevent injury to the ticking and toprevent lossor displacement of the tufts.

The primary object of our invention is to provide an improved tuftingmeans for mattresses and the like.

Another object is to provide an improved device which efiectuallyprotects the ticking and the ends of the tufting. loops.

A further object is to provide an impr oved tufting device whereby thetufting loops are effectually engaged and permanently retained.

Another object is to provide an improved tufting device of the characterdescribed which is applied directly upon the ticking of a mattress toreceive and retain the tufting loops. p

A still further object is to provide an improved device of simpleconstruction which can be efliciently and economically applied. Weaccomplish'these and other objects by means of the improved devicedisclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present applicationwherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar partsthroughout the specification and drawings andinwhich I,

Fig; l'is abroken sectional view of a portion of a mattress showing themanner in which our invention is applied; a v

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a tufting gromet as applied upon the mattress;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a tufting gromet drawn upon an enlarged scale;and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of a gromet showing the manner inwhich the tufting loop is engaged and protected.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 is used to designate in general,a mattress provided with the usual cover or ticking 2. Tufting loops 3of the ordinary character are applied through the mattress at intervalsin the usual manner.

In the ordinary practice, tufts are inserted through the endsof theloops 3 to prevent 50 the ends of the loops from tearing through the1928. Serial No. 287,968.

ticking in a well known manner. Such tufts collect dust and dirt, andwhen the mattress has become somewhat packed down in service, the tuftsfrequently slip out from the ends of the loopsand permit the loops totear through the ticking.

In" our present invention, we provide tufting members designated ingeneral by the numeral 4 which are inserted into engagement with theticking 2 and arranged to receive the strands of the loops 3 andpermanently retained in operative engagement by said loops 3. Themembers 4 consist of a flange portion 6 having a pair of substantiallyparallel sleeveport-ions 7 extending from one side, of the flange andopening therethrough and forming a double gromet. A groove 8 is formedin the flange portion 6 between the sleeve openings to form a recessadapted tolreceive the end of a loop 3 below the plane of the outersurface of the flange 6. The members 4 are preferably stamped fromsuitable sheet metal, and the sleeve portions 7 are spaced sufficientlyto receive the needles of the usual tufting machine and to span asubstantial quantity of the mattress ticking and stufiing therebypreventing lateral movement relative to the stufing.

In operation, tufting members 4-are applied at o posite points upon theupper-and lower sur acesof the mattress. The needles of the ordinarytufting machine are operated through the spaced parallel sleeve portions7 to form the usual tufting loop 3, said loop being tiedin the wellknown manner and drawn tight through the mattress when the mattress isallowed to expand after the loop is applied. The ends of the loops 3 arereceived within the grooves 8 of the members 4 upon opposite sides ofthe mattress, thereby holding the members 4 in firm engagement with thesurfaces of the mattress, said grooves serving to recede the loop fromthe surface of the flange 6 and protect the loop' from wear. As theloops '3 are applied directly through the sleeve portions 7 of themembers 4, said members 4 are permanently retained in position andcannot become lost. The double gromet structure effectually protectsthetickin so that the loops cannot cut through the tic ing engagedwithin the ends of the loops.

While We have illustrated and described our invention in its preferredembodiment only, the device is of course subject to modification, and wedesire to avail ourselves of such modifications as may fall within thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. A mattress tuft comprises a double grometconsisting on an outer flange portion and a pair of parallel sleeveportions engagirg the ticking of a mattress and arranged to receive thestrands of a tufting 100p, said flange portion being grooved between theopenings into the sleeve portions to recede the loop inwardly from thesurface of the flange.

p 2. A mattress tuft comprising the combination with a mattress and theticking thereof, of double gromets inserted through the tickingatopposite points upon the upper and lower surfaces of the mattress toreceive tufting loops applied through the mattress, said gromets havinggrooves arranged to receive the ends' of the loops.

In witness whereof, we hereunto set our signatures.

ROY F. RUTHERFORD. ,IVILLIAM- HOOD.

